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Unit 13: Political Parties

3. The two parties of Britain have their sharp ideological distinctions despite the fact that both Notes
have no faith in the doctrine of scientific socialism. While the Conservative party stands for the
protection and promotion of the interests of the affluent class having control over the means of
production and distribution, the Labour Party does the same by and large for the class of the
workers. Moreover, while the Conservative party stands for the survival of British imperial
dignity and for this reason strives for the retention of British hold over the poor and backward
parts of the world, the Labour Party desires peace and liquidation of capitalism in the national
and of colonialism in the international spheres.
4. A very important feature of British political parties should be traced in their being well-organised
and disciplined and by virtue of that in their enjoying a hard core of electoral support. There is
rigorous discipline due to which political maladies like cross-voting and floor-crossing are
uncommon. The well-organised and highly disciplined character of the party system has made
the working of cabinet system not only successful but an ideal for other countries to follow and
to emulate.
5. It is due to this that events of violent manifestations do not occur in this country the like of
which we may find in a country like France. Influencing the electorate by means of publications,
speeches and sometimes by strikes done by the labour organisations are the principal ways by
which political parties take part in the political process of the country. Any attempt to make use
of violence or undemocratic action is carefully avoided. The result is that the two major parties
remain like well-organised bodies and act in a way that gives stability as well as strength to the
cabinet system of government.

British political parties have their full and unflinching faith in using democratic and
constitutional means to realise their aims and objectives.
Conservative Party: As stated above, the Conservative party has never been a body of thoroughly
superstitious men. Its name hardly denotes its essential nature. As such, instead of calling it an
organization of the opponents of reform, democracy and social justice, it would be more appropriate
to describe it as a body of those who obdurately value their traditions and precedents and desire
change at a very slow pace as far as possible. Under the leadership of men like Peel and Disraeli, for
instance, it showed its ‘militantly progressive’ orientation. Hence, no one, as says a leading American
writer, with a knowledge of English political history, “would contend that it has always been the
party of reaction, or of obstruction to progress.” Normally, the Conservatives oppose change or reform,
but they accept it willy-nilly when they have to do it. One of their leaders once rightly said that they
are ‘cautious and circumspect reformers.’
What deserves attention at this stage is that the Leader occupies a very important position. He is
appointed for an indefinite period as there is no provision for annual election, though he lives under
strict supervision of his party MPs and he may be forced to quit in case he commits a serious lapse. If
the party gets clear majority, he becomes the Prime Minister, if the party is in the opposition, he
selects his ‘shadow cabinet’. Whips are appointed by him. His authority is by no means absolute in as
much as the committee of the backbenchers (1922 Committee as it is called) may impeach him for his
acts of commission or omission and thereby force him to take a different line of action.
Let us now look into the factor of ideology. As already pointed out, this party stands for broad
principles that may be enumerated as under:
1. It believes that the nation is sustained by the existence of different social classes playing their
part on the basis of merit. Ability and not accidents of wealth or birth should be the guiding
consideration. No class should be favoured over or against another.
2. Freedom is the sine qua non of human life and its progress. Stress should be laid on the significance
of free enterprise. The wider the choice, the greater scope for the development of self-reliance.

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